The EdRedesign Lab

Real change starts close to home. Our Executive Director Rob Watson had the incredible opportunity to present on the panel "Community Power: How Local Initiatives Transcend Politics" at #SXSWEDU yesterday with three other trailblazers in the #placebased partnership field: Josh Davis from StriveTogether, Jillian Spindle from Mission Economic Development Agency, and Arti Doshi from Harlem Children's Zone. The panel explored how local partnerships are transforming communities and supporting families through cross-sector collaboration, education, housing, and health. When local community leaders unite, they can overcome political divisions to create vibrant, thriving communities for ALL children and families. #CradletoCareer #PlaceBasedPartnerships #SXSWEDU Harvard Graduate School of Education Harvard University Harvard Kennedy School Harvard Advanced Leadership Initiative Institute of Politics at Harvard Kennedy School

At #SXSWEDU 2025, discover how place-based partnerships strengthen communities by supporting students and families from cradle-to-career. In "Community Power: How Local Initiatives Transcend Politics" on March 5th, our Executive Director Rob Watson and leaders from StriveTogether, the Mission Economic Development Agency, and William Julius Wilson Institute at Harlem Children's Zone will share how local organizations create lasting change through collaborative efforts across sectors. ?? March 5, 2025 | 2:30–3:30 PM CT ?? Austin Convention Center, Room 12AB ? CPE credit available Add it to your schedule ?? bit.ly/3EMcsAp Harvard Graduate School of Education Harvard University Harvard Kennedy School Bloomberg Harvard City Leadership Initiative Bloomberg Center for Cities at Harvard University Institute of Politics at Harvard Kennedy School Arti Doshi Josh Davis Jillian Spindle Tauheedah Jackson, Ed.M. Julie Allen

We are excited to launch our Spotlights—a research series highlighting Success Planning and cross-sector collaborative action initiatives that provide insights that can inspire, engage, and inform other communities looking to design, plan, implement, and scale Success Planning initiatives. Our first piece, authored by Lynne Sacks, Research Director at EdRedesign, and Aundrey Page, focuses on Every Child and Family is Known, a multi-agency initiative in New York City designed to provide personalized support systems for children and families living in shelters. In NYC, one in eight public school students has experienced homelessness, and tens of thousands spend time in shelters each year. Recognizing this urgent need, city leaders came together to break down silos and build a coordinated support system, ensuring that every child and family is truly known and connected to the resources they need to thrive. NYC has been a member of EdRedesign’s Institute for Success Planning (ISP) Community of Practice since 2022, under the leadership of Tauheedah Jackson, Ed.M., Deputy Director. The Community of Practice provided a framework for designing, planning, and implementing the Every Child and Family is Known initiative.?Every Child and Family is Known pairs Caring Adults with no more than three children and their families living in shelters, connecting them to services and resources to help them thrive. Key takeaways from this initiative:? ?? Leveraging trusted relationships through a “Caring Adult” model? ?? Connecting families to critical services and opportunities? ?? Using data-driven strategies to tackle chronic absenteeism and other systemic challenges? ?? Showcasing how cross-sector collaboration can drive impact at scale? This initiative is part of a growing national movement to rethink how communities support their most vulnerable children and families. NYC’s approach offers valuable lessons for policymakers, educators, and advocates working to close opportunity gaps.? Read the full Spotlight to learn more: https://lnkd.in/dm8vHfX5 #EdRedesignSpotlight #NYC Harvard University Harvard Graduate School of Education Harvard Kennedy School Joshua Laub Christopher Tan NYC Department of Education NYC Administration for Children's Services

On Wednesday, February 12?MassINC?and?Urban Edge Housing Corporation hosted?"School Centered Neighborhood Development: From Theory to Action"?to explore how schools and neighborhood partners can work together to advance holistic community development. Our Executive Director Rob Watson moderated a panel with Carol Naughton, CEO of Purpose Built Communities, Kristin McSwain, Director of the Office of Early Childhood for the City of Boston, and Vanessa Calderon-Rosado, CEO of IBA - Inquilinos Boricuas en Acción. Together, they shared strategies for how schools can support neighborhood development and how neighborhoods can lift up schools in a way that improves outcomes for students, families, and residents of the entire community. Key takeaways included: 1. Schools as Community Anchors: Investing in school-centered development supports quality housing, safe spaces, and economic opportunities, with successful models showing the importance of community-driven planning. 2. Cross-Sector Collaboration: Effective neighborhood development requires partnerships across sectors like education, housing, and local government. Collaboration maximizes resources and overcomes systemic barriers. 3. Lessons from Successful Initiatives: Integrating school improvements with community investments fosters lasting change. (Photos courtesy of MassInc. Policy Center) Harvard University Harvard Graduate School of Education Harvard Kennedy School Harvard Advanced Leadership Initiative

Congratulations to Tulsa's Leadership and ImpactTulsa! We are thrilled to congratulate Mayor Monroe Nichols and Deputy Mayor Krystal Reyes on the significant step forward for Tulsa's future with the creation of the Mayor's Office of Children, Youth, and Families (MOCYF). By signing the executive order, the city is committing to a brighter future for their community's children, youth, and families by investing in their economic mobility and well-being. The new office aims to align cross-sector efforts and mobilize community resources, with ambitious plans to improve the lives of 15,000 additional youth by 2030, ensuring that more than a 100,000 youth in Tulsa thrive. MOCYF will lead initiatives to address challenges such as family eviction and enhance cooperation across city departments through the Tulsa Children's Cabinet. We applaud our partner ImpactTulsa, who will head this groundbreaking office and start its transformative work in early March. Their dedication to systemic change through data alignment and cross-sector collaboration is key to the success of this initiative. A special congratulations to Ashley Harris Philippsen, Executive Director of ImpactTulsa and a Fellow in EdRedesign's Fellowship for Cradle-to-Career Partnership Leaders. We are thrilled to partner with Ashley and ImpactTulsa! #TulsaLeadership #ImpactTulsa #EconomicMobility Denisse Arias Rob Watson Julie Allen Tauheedah Jackson, Ed.M. Harvard University Harvard Graduate School of Education Harvard Kennedy School City of Tulsa Tulsa Regional Chamber FOX23/KOKI

We are thrilled to celebrate the 34th annual CATHARINE STREET COMMUNTY CENTER Martin Luther King, Jr. Breakfast in Poughkeepsie, NY, held on January 24, where our very own inaugural Executive Director, Rob Watson, was invited by Catharine Street and the Roosevelt Institute to be the keynote speaker! ? This event is particularly meaningful for Rob, marking the 20-year anniversary of his receiving an MLK Youth Honoree scholarship from Catharine Street—a pivotal moment that led him on a mission to eliminate intergenerational poverty through collective impact, community development, and cradle-to-career place-based models of opportunity and support for all children and youth, especially those affected by poverty, racism, and disinvestment. ? We extend our warmest?congratulations?to all the youth honorees recognized for their exceptional achievements. Your dedication is a testament to the legacy of Dr. King, and we are excited to see how you will continue to shine in your communities. Read the coverage from the Poughkeepsie Journal: https://lnkd.in/d744kvnR ? #MLKBreakfast #CommunityImpact Harvard University Harvard Graduate School of Education Harvard Kennedy School Harvard Iop Harvard Advanced Leadership Initiative

A big congratulations to Jane Quinn and Sister Paulette LoMonaco for their impactful report on the history of afterschool programs in New York City, recently published with collaboration from the Partnership for After School Education (PASE)! On Jan. 22, 75?current and past nonprofit leaders, representatives from NYC Department of Youth & Community Development and NEW YORK CITY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, funders, and afterschool supporters gathered at Interchurch Center to celebrate the release of?"From Stumbling Blocks to Building Blocks: A History of Afterschool in New York City," a report on the creation and evolution of the New York City afterschool system between the 1970s and 2020. EdRedesign's Tauheedah Jackson, Ed.M. and Julie Allen were honored to attend the event and connect with Harlem Children's Zone's Geoff Canada and The Wallace Foundation, the premier funder of afterschool time. The report highlights significant developments and advocates for the continued growth of afterschool opportunities, ensuring every child's success. #AfterschoolPrograms #EducationAdvocacy Read about the event and access the report here: https://lnkd.in/dtDy_bG3 Harvard Graduate School of Education Harvard University Harvard Kennedy School

Just published in FutureEd at Georgetown: An insightful commentary on how schools can better support immigrant students and their families, a critically important topic at this time. Co-authored by Tauheedah Jackson, Ed.M., Lynne Sacks, and Richard Raya, CEO of Marin Promise Partnership, former leader at Mission Economic Development Agency, and current EdRedesign By All Means Senior Fellow, the piece explores innovative strategies like personalized Success Planning, fostering community trust, and cross-sector collaboration to help students reach their full potential. The commentary details how the Mission Economic Development Agency, supported by federal grants and partnerships, provided an immigrant family with educational resources, affordable housing, and legal aid, personalized supports that were critical for the family's well-being and success. By leveraging existing resources and building strong relationships, schools can empower immigrant families and ensure their children have the opportunities they deserve. Read here: https://lnkd.in/d8tPYa7X #Education #ImmigrantSupport #StudentSuccess Harvard Graduate School of Education Harvard University Celina C. Mission Promise Neighborhood National Promise Neighborhoods Coalition California Promise Neighborhood Network (CPNN) FutureEd at Georgetown Oak Foundation Barr Foundation Carnegie Corporation of New York The Wallace Foundation

We're proud to announce that our Executive Director, Rob Watson, has joined the Board of Directors at StriveTogether, the nation's leading network of place-based partnerships. Rob's expertise in developing cradle-to-career systems of opportunity will be a tremendous asset to advancing StriveTogether's mission of ensuring every child, regardless of race, ethnicity, or zip code, can thrive. Join us in congratulating Rob on this significant appointment as we continue to work towards a brighter future for all youth and families! Read StriveTogether's official press release here: https://bit.ly/4gR7GQt Also check out their Q&A with Rob and other new board members: https://bit.ly/40wcDs8 Harvard Graduate School of Education Harvard University Harvard Kennedy School Harvard Iop Bloomberg Harvard City Leadership Initiative Blue Meridian Partners Barr Foundation Oak Foundation The Wallace Foundation Carnegie Corporation of New York Ballmer Group Annie E. Casey Foundation Purpose Built Communities Harlem Children's Zone Children's Funding Project Partnership for Resilience Partners for Rural Impact Child Poverty Action Lab (CPAL) #Leadership #SocialImpact #EducationEquity

Calling all Harvard Graduate Students: This spring, join Professors Paul Reville and Rob Watson in Collaborative Action for Children: Redesigning Education for Equity, a university-wide course devoted to conceiving and developing a vision and strategic plan for a broader, deeper education system featuring comprehensive, integrated systems of education, child development, health and human services, and out-of-school learning. The Harvard Graduate School of Education and Harvard Kennedy School course focuses on cradle-to-career place-based collaborative action to create holistic child development and education systems. In this university-wide course, you’ll collaborate in student teams on real-world, cross-sector consulting projects with cities and community partners across the U.S., including: ?? Boston, MA: City of Boston, The Boston Opportunity Agenda, Boston After School & Beyond ??Dayton, OH: Omega CDC ??Rochester, NY: ROC the Future Alliance ??Poughkeepsie, NY: Poughkeepsie Children's Cabinet Don’t miss this opportunity to make a meaningful impact while learning hands-on skills for systems change. Apply now: https://bit.ly/4gSzjc0 Explore the syllabus: https://bit.ly/3WcYg9r Visit the course website: https://bit.ly/406s6Oh Apply soon—spaces are limited.